Vocabulary

 

claim	distribute	brilliant (2)
genius	alternate	current (2)
invent	florescent	transmission
priest	discover	stereotypical
receive	conceive	letter of recommendation
invite	genesis	to part ways
refuse	report (2)	reportedly
owe	field (4)	pay/paid/paid
basis	magnet	generate (2)
rotate	challenge	transform (2)
enable	transmit	recommend
loss	minimal	power plant
mile	standard	demonstrate (2)
coil	voltage	exposition
remain	brilliance	inspiration
tube	plant (3)	cathode ray tube
ray	credit (3)	aerospace
design	remote	remote control
hydro	bulb (2)	appreciate
radar	obvious	extremely
penny	penniless	practically (2)
genius	wireless	conceive (2)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 

Transcript

 
Claimed by many to be the true father of the Electric Age, brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla discovered the electric alternating current which powers the world as we now know it.

Paul Ronney, Professor, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California: “Nikola Tesla’s invention of the modern AC transmission distribution system made the Electric Age possible.”

Son of a Serbian Orthodox priest, Nikola Tesla was born on July tenth, 1856 in Smilian, present-day Croatia.

Harish Krishnaswamy, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University: “Tesla received a classical education. He was also said to have been a stereotypical genius who would conceive his inventions in a moment’s inspiration.”

Paul Ronney, Professor, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California: “Tesla came to the United States in 1884, and with a letter of recommendation, was invited to work in Thomas Edison’s laboratories.”

Harish Krishnaswamy, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University: “But soon after, they parted ways, reportedly because Edison refused to pay Tesla the money he was owed.”

Tesla discovered the rotating magnetic field, the basis for his alternating current supply system of generators, motors and transformers. This new system challenged Thomas Edison’s direct current electrical system.

Paul Ronney, Professor, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California: “Tesla’s system of transmitting electrical current is an alternating current instead of Thomas Edison’s direct current enabled us to transmit electricity thousands of miles (kilometers) with minimal loss, instead of having to have a power plant every few miles.”

Robert Silverstein, UCLA Lecturer, Engineering Career Skills: “In 1893, at the World Exposition held in Chicago, Tesla demonstrated his alternating current. It became the standard for electric power generation and transmission for the rest of the Twentieth Century and remains the standard today.”

In 1891, Tesla created his most famous inventions: his Tesla coil.

Robert Silverstein, UCLA Lecturer, Engineering Career Skills: “The Tesla coil was a way of generating extremely high voltages. It was the genesis of the whole idea behind the cathode-ray tube, the radio transmitter, radar and many other technologies.”

Tesla is also credited for inventing the first working radio, the florescent light bulb, the remote control and the wireless transmission of electricity. He also designed the first hydro-electric generating plant at Niagara Falls.

Nikola Tesla died in 1943 at the age of 86.

Paul Ronney, Professor, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California: “Despite Nikola Tesla’s obvious brilliance, he died penniless and practically unknown. It’s only recently that we’ve come to appreciate all that he has done for us.”

Harish Krishnaswamy, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University: “He was an inventor-genius who conceived of things well ahead of his time, but are still used today.”

 

 

Questions

 
1. Nikola Tesla was an ordinary engineer. True or false? What was his main invention or contribution to the world?

2. Was he a native-born American?

3. Did he think and analyze, and only make small, gradual refinements on other people’s designs?

4. Which is better for generating and transmitting electricity, direct current or alternating current? Was Thomas Edison (always) an honest and trustworthy person?

5. What was Tesla’s most glorious moment? What was his crowning achievement?

6. Was he a prolific inventor?

7. Tesla was famous and well-known throughout his life. Is this correct or incorrect?

 

A. Did you learn about Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in school history?

B. Who are your favorite inventors, engineers or scientists?

C. Do you or your friends have ideas for an invention or discovery?

D. Is there a secret for inventiveness? How can inventiveness and creativity be fostered?

E. Can people and governments do anything to foster inventions and creativity? What could they do?